- artist:Simon Leleux
- featured artist:Bernard Grodos - François Sep
- release year:2021
- style(s):World, Contemporary
- country:Belgium
- formats:Audio File / Digital, CD (Compact Disc)
- record posted by:Homerecords.be
- label:Homerecords.be
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Letter to Levent is Simon Leleux’s first solo album. It marks a significant milestone in his study of the doholla, a bass darbuka originating from Egypt.
This work is dedicated to Levent Yildirim, pioneer in this instrument modern techniques. It is also a heartfelt tribute to the student-master relationship and transfer of knowledge; when the teachings go beyond mastering an instrument but also become stepping stones to life choices, a philosophy or an artistic identity…
Improvisation is omnipresent throughout, emphasizing minimalist, spontaneous, intimate and direct pieces.
In this album, the doholla is displayed free from its traditional context. Simon Leleux has a broad approach, driven by human encounters that inspired him through their music and stories. The identity and cultures related questions are key. If the darbuka has typical arabic overtones, the tombak is instantly associated with persian culture, the Tabla with India, the djembe with Africa or the congas with Cuba…. Here, the doholla creates bridges between far apart colours, draped with an ungraspable and mysterious vibe.
Mirroring this concept, Simon Leleux does not try to convey or channel a unique repertoire and genre. He’s freed himself from any role imposed on him by a certain music tradition or ideological straightjacket. The confluence of varied cultures enriches his work contemporary approach.